The Mystic Virtue

Tao gives them birth, Teh (character) fosters them.
The material world gives them form. The circumstances of the moment complete them.
Therefore all things of the universe worship Tao and exalt Teh.
Tao is worshipped and Teh is exalted without anyone’s order but is so of its own accord.
Therefore Tao gives them birth, Teh fosters them, makes them grow, develops them, gives them a harbor, a place to dwell in peace, feeds them and shelters them.
It gives them birth and does not own them, acts (helps) and does not appropriate them, is superior, and does not control them.
This is the Mystic Virtue.

(Tao Teh King 51)

Tao gives them birth, Teh (character) fosters them.

It is essential that we realize we take our being from the Tao, that we are not one thing and the Tao another. Actually, the Tao is all things. Being a part of the Tao it is inherent in us to live in accordance with the Tao, but in our many previous lives we have usually gotten more and more out of phase with the Tao until our lives virtually oppose the Tao and seem to be something completely outside the Tao, even irreconcilable with the Tao. This is an illusion, but it can produce many very real and painful results.

In our origin we are identical but each of us develops as uniquely as ice crystals form into snowflakes. The Tao is infinite, and it is its infinity that is manifesting in all this never-repeating variety. Teh–character or quality–is an aspect of the Tao, and it keeps us fluid as we evolve through a kaleidoscope of forms. We remain the same in essence, but continually differ in expression, rather like an artist’s brush and paints. Tao is the great Artist, the great Playwright, the great Stage Manager and Director. As we move up the evolutionary ladder, the characteristics we develop gradually refine until all distortion, conflict or deficiency disappear and we are revealed as perfect images of the Perfect. All this is totally intended in the divine plan and is therefore totally natural. The only reason our perfection does not get realized without a struggle is our habits and conditionings from prior lives that go contrary to it. Cleaning up the spots and ironing out the wrinkles is the purpose of the interior, mystical life which is the foundation of Taoism.

The material world gives them form. The circumstances of the moment complete them.

Wu: “Matter shapes them, Environment perfects them.”

Coming into the material plane we take upon ourselves many forms in succession, and each moment of those incarnations affect us as, as does our response to them. And this we call karma. Karma is usually thought of as something to be rid of, but in fact karma is the impelling force of evolution. Rebirth is not bondage; ignorance is bondage. We need to develop wisdom–awareness of and conformity to the Tao. When that is done, rebirth becomes a wonderful source of growth and expansion that leads to freedom from any need for further rebirth. Then we dwell in higher and higher worlds until we transcend them all and can remain beyond them or enter into them at will. This is freedom.

Therefore all things of the universe worship Tao and exalt Teh.

The worship all things render to the Tao is their life within the Tao which is totally spontaneous, an expression of their nature as part of the Tao. They particularly do this by developing an infinite variety of forms, qualities and characteristics. In this way they not only exalt Teh by are themselves exalted by it.

Tao is worshipped and Teh is exalted without anyone’s order but is so of its own accord.

As just said, this all occurs spontaneously and is an expression of the very nature of things.

Therefore Tao gives them birth, Teh fosters them, makes them grow, develops them, gives them a harbor, a place to dwell in peace, feeds them and shelters them.

Everything arises from Tao and Teh.

It gives them birth and does not own them, acts (helps) and does not appropriate them, is superior, and does not control them.

Mabry renders this: “The Tao gives birth, but does not possess; acts, but does not take credit; guides, but does not control.” This is not just a statement of fact but is meant to give us insight into how we should be doing our part in the evolutionary life within the Tao. We should not think to possess or attribute to ourselves that which we produce. We should not identify with our actions and think that we are acting independently of the Tao. We should not violate the freedom and nature inherent in all things, but work with them so they will unfold naturally and not be forced for that will lead to distortion, misery and destruction. Certainly other people should only be guided and never controlled or persuaded. And then they should be left alone. If they do or do not accept guidance they should be left in peace.

This is the Mystic Virtue.

Mabry: “This is the mystery of goodness.” Everything outside this is not good or benevolent but egotism and a sure path to disharmony and suffering–blindness to the Tao and interior death.

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Dedication of OCOY.org

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